Saul
***

Saul had Shawnee wrapped tightly in his arms on the dance floor when he
spotted Mery and Byrin as they walked into the dining hall. "Their here,"
he whispered in Shawnee's ear. He felt her stiffen and he pulled back
looking deeply into her aqua eyes, "If you don't want to do this .."

"No, I'm fine." She smiled at him, "Let's do it .."

He nodded at her and took her hand pulling her toward the entrance where
the two from Ralengarde stood.

All four looked nervous but Merybelle smiled politely, "Thank you for
inviting us to dinner."

Saul nodded, "I'm glad you could come." He turned to Byrin, "I'm .. sorry
.. that I didn't come see you sooner .."

Byrin nodded, "It's okay. I guess I was a pretty big surprise."

"You could say that," Saul grinned. Byrin grinned back and Shawnee's heart
melted looking at the boy. He even had Saul's smile .. "I'd like you both
to meet Shawnee. Shawnee this is Merybelle and Byrin."

Shawnee smiled, "It's nice to meet you .. officially." Mery and Byrin
exchanged their cordial greetings as well.

"Well, if you'll come this way," Saul said, "We can get some of our
excellent Whiteriver faire just over here at the buffet."

They raided the Buffet tables and then took a seat a table near the back of
the room where it wasn't quite so noisy and they could talk. Saul asked
about their life in Ralengarde, and about Byrin's childhood. He showed an
interest in the boy's likes and dislikes and both woman could see that the
two were getting along very well.

Suddenly from across the room there was a loud voice shouting, "I WONDER IF
THOSE BUSHES WILL HOLD THREE!" The room feel silent for a moment.

Saul turned to see Pa'gan laughing jovially as Trinale, the warren's young
Warrenlady, ran out of the room. His eyes darkened and he moved to stand,
his hands drawn into fists. "Saul, no!" Shawnee said, as the music started
up again.

Saul continued to stand and Shawnee moved quickly in front of him, "Stop it!"

"Shawnee," he said through gritted teeth, "You saw what that animal did to
her!"

She had to stop him, knowing he'd have no chance if he went up against the
tall warrior. Besides out weighing him, the man was drunk and would be in
no shape to be reasoned with. He would kill Saul. 

"It's done .. starting a fight with him isn't going to help. It's only
going to land you in the medical center." She said trying to reason with him.

"He needs to be taught a lesson!"

"He's had too much to drink. He's celebrating .. his mate just joined to a
dragon, and they are expecting .."

Saul looked at her, his eyes still full of anger, "But Trinale .."

"I saw Aradia follow her out. She'll be fine. But you know how angry she'll
be if you go off half-cocked and try and pound on Pa'gan."

"She just a little girl .."

Shawnee rolled her eyes, "You know better then that. No please, love,
please. Sit down and lets have dinner." Her aqua eyes were pleading with
him to see reason. To just let it go. She knew he cared about Trinale very
deeply, but had to make him see it would do no good to start a fight.

Saul turned to look at Merybelle and Byrin both of whom were staring at
him. His anger deflated and he nodded, "I'm sorry," he said to the two of
them. He took his seat again. Shawnee could still see his muscles, taunt
with adrenaline, and his eyes still fighting back the anger. She took his
hand in hers and gently held it, hoping to help him calm down faster.

Mery watched the loving way Shawnee touched his hand, his arm.  She could
see the love shining in the woman's eyes. There was obviously some
affection from Saul's side as well, but Mery didn't trust it. She'd thought
he'd cared for her as well. She felt sorry for the girl, who would most
likely only end up getting hurt.

She also watched her son as he watched the dragonrider. She could see that
he was quickly falling under Saul of Whiteriver's spell .. and it filled
her with dread. She did not want to see Byrin hurt as she had been.

Shawnee was relieved when he finally sat back down on the bench next to
her, though she knew him well enough by now to know he was still angry. She
could still see his muscles, taunt with adrenaline, and his eyes still
fighting back the anger. She took his hand in hers and gently held it,
hoping to help him calm down faster.

The only other time she had seen this kind of anger coming from him was the
night he'd learned of the trouble she'd had with the drunken K'leev. He'd
been angry with her that night too for not telling him about it herself.

"She'll be okay love," Shawnee said softly not noticing the woman watching
her from where she sat across the table. Nor the pitying look on her face.
For a moment all that was in her mind was Saul. 

"Would you really have hit him?" Byrin asked.

Saul lifted his eyes and suddenly felt guilty. How often had he watched his
own father fly off the handle and begin a barroom brawl. In the end it had
been what had gotten him killed. "I .. I got carried away. I apologize."

Shawnee
***

"You must have had a good reason," the boy said.

"No... there's rarely a good reason to get into a fight," Saul told Byrin.
He was about to add something when they heard Shawnee's brother Ojean's
excited voice calling out to then as the kids and Barry drew near.

"So how did you like your first hatching?" the younger boy asked when he
saw Byrin seated with Saul and his sister. "Did you get to see Shawnee join
with her dragon? Wasn't it cool?"

"Yeah it was pretty neat," the boy said, answering Ojean's question then
turned slowly towards Shawnee and asked, "what's her name?"

"Doshayne. And she's a vain little thing."

She got him to laugh as she told them all the story about the little
hatchling asking the Warrenlady if she thought she was beautiful.

When she mentioned Trinale's name she could feel Saul's body tense next to
hers and was glad when Fawna chose that moment to climb up into his lap.

Shawnee watched the woman sitting across the table from them and saw as her
eyes narrowed and her lips frown for a brief second as she watched the
little girl happily making herself comfortable.

Byrin was also watching them and the light in his eyes faded a little as he
watched the dragonriders arm move to slip around the little blonde's waist
to keep her steady and safe.

It was the kind of thing a father would do.

"Byrin," Shawnee began suddenly, hating to see him so sad when moments
before he'd seem happy. "I believe you met my brother Ojean and sister
Fawna when you and your mother arrived at the Warren?"

"He's nice Shawnee!" the little girl spoke up and turned her smile on the
boy who couldn't help but smile back. No one could resist the little Angel
for long.

"Theses children are your... brother and sister?" Merybelle asked her.

"They are and Shawnee takes excellent care of them," Saul answered for her.

"So do you!" Fawna turned her sweet little angelic smile on her favorite
friend. "See the pretty doll he gave me? He said she was special and gave
her to me because I was special too. Right?"

"Right you are Angel," he agreed readily. "And beautiful too."

At that Fawna giggled and Shawnee was relieved that the little girl didn't
add her usual "Just like Shawnee", but Saul's hand squeezed her to let her
know he was thinking about it too.

The thought warmed her.

"It's a very pretty doll," Mery told Fawna. She too had fallen under the
little girls spell, but then her eyes met Saul's and her smile faltered a bit.

Saul turned to ask Byrin another question and soon the males at the table
were off talking about  different things. About their likes and hopes for
the future. Barry joined in, but kept shooting glances between the
dragonrider and the boy sitting across from them. At one point his eyes met
Shawnee's asking a question and she knew he'd made the connection.

She wondered how many others would.

"Well maybe Byrin can help us oil Fayloth in the morning?" Ojean was
saying. "It'll give him something to tell his friends about when he goes
home."

"Oh could I?" the boy asked eagerly looking up at Saul.

"Well... ah... sure," the rider replied. "I don't see any reason why you
couldn't."

"Could I mom?" Byrin asked turning to face his mother. "Please!!"

"I guess it'll be all right as long as you aren't in your fa... Saul's
way," she recovered quickly.

So they made plans to meet the next morning and then Merybelle said it was
time for her and her son to find their beds.

Merybelle (morning after the party)
***

Mery was up early packing her bags. She wanted to catch the first wagon out
of her.

"Byrin! Get up." She called to her still sleeping son. "It's time to get
packed to go home."

Byrin yawned as he sat up stretching, "Home?" 

"Yes, I want to get out of here as soon as we can."

"But .." Byrin said, "Mom, you promised I could help Ojean oil Fayloth."

Mery looked at her son. "I know I did love .. but .."

"Please, mom, there will be wagons leaving out of here all day," He begged,
"We can catch a later one."

Mery sighed, "Very well, but you might as well pack now."

Byrin nodded with a gleam in his eye, "I will."

***

Mery hoped it wouldn't take long for the boys to oil that dragon .. she
wanted to go home! She found the longer she stayed her the more she missed
Ralengarde. And she was anxious to get back to the Traveler's Rest.

She spotted Saul with Ojean pulling on him. She felt her heart skip a beat.
He was still very handsome. She quickly composed herself and pointed the
two out to Byrin. The sooner they got started the sooner it would be over!
Then she wouldn't have to think about Saul of Whiteriver again.!

Saul
***

Saul watched Shawnee as she went to training. But soon he found his
attention drawn away by Ojean, who pulled on his arm, "Come on Saul! I
wanna oil Fayloth."

"Okay, big guy, let's go find us a dragon to oil." Saul laughed.

"Look, there's Byrin!" Ojean smiled. 

Saul turned to see Byrin and his mother heading their way. He smiled at her
and bowed slightly, "Thank you for letting him help, Mery."

"I would do anything for my son." she said pointedly.

Saul frowned, the forced himself not to take offense, "I'm sure you would.
He's a wonderful boy, Mery. You've done a good job."

Mery simply nodded and moved to follow the children as they ran for the
brilliant blue waiting for them  in a warm sunny spot.

Saul shrugged. He had found himself taking a strong liking to the boy. He
was almost sorry he wouldn't get the chance to see him or get to know him
any better.

***

It had taken most of the morning to oil the dragon. Saul could have done it
himself much faster the boys and Fayloth were having too much fun doing it.
Fawna had tried to help too, but she seemed to quickly grown tired of it
and moved to sit with Mery as she played with her doll.

Suddenly the girl looked up and shouted, "Shawnee!!" She jumped and ran
into her sister's arms. "Where is Doshy?"

"She very tired after training and is napping. But I wanted to have lunch
with you my darling."

Saul smiled warmly at her and headed over to give her a kiss on the cheek.
Mery simply watched. Saul seemed much the same .. yet so different ..

Regards,
Merybelle & Byrin
Saul & Fayloth
Shawnee & Doshayne (Written by Barb Mathews)


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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Dragonrider
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
 --d----------b-------------------------------------------------------
        ()
       \()/
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